Transfer Rumours The Summer “Have We Signed Anyone Yet?” Thread

Most naturally gifted since Bale, I think. Expected more from him by this stage of his career tbh.

 

Nice guy, but yeah move on if we can get a replacement. Not seen his gf in a while so haven't heard anything about him wanting to leave.

 

Vokins next up from the Academy to replace Matty?

 

I don’t understand the eagerness to move Targett on. We need more than one RB, and he can play in more than one position anyway. Though I do accept he may wish to move on to get more regular football.

 

We do need more than one right back, not convinced Matty is one of them though

 

Hm. I wonder if he can play RB?

His goal against Bournemouth was a thing of beauty btw

 

I do like him but he's at the point where he needs to be playing week in week out and I can't see that next season so good luck to him.

 

And if Bertrand gets injured a month into the season?

 

I'm presuming if he goes that we'll sign a left back.

 

One who doesn’t mind if he doesn’t play much?

 

I dunno probably, yeah. Doubt we'll be signing a starting one though you never know.

 

Thing is, Bertie is good enough to keep most LBs on the bench; but hopefully won't attract any big money bids from the top 4-6 this summer, and if he does then hopefully he will want to stay and work with Ralph.

That means any LB we bring in will have quite a job challenging Bertie for a regular starting spot; so, from the club's position, that may as well be Targett because..
A) he can play left mid as well as left back
B) he's one of our own, and
C) he's called Matt.

Some of our fans have decided he'll never be good enough, but I'm not in that camp.

 

Unless he wants to go of course?

 

Yeh, fair play if he does. We didn't stand in Tadic's way (or Rickie's, or Pelle's) so we certainly shouldn't stand in his.

 

He’s a decent player, I just don’t think he’s suited to RH style.
His high press relies on pacey full backs, that add a lot of attacking threat. Targett has a decent cross on him, but he is quite slow and can’t run the ball past people. Is that something that can be coached? I’m not sure.

 

Can coach someone to be slightly faster off the mark, but coaching real pace I don't believe is possible. I've said for the last couple of seasons that Targett needs to be playing in a certain system which helps protect his lack of pace. Fulham played that system when getting promoted from the Championship. They let Targett play high up the pitch as he was a big threat for them in an attacking sense but it meant they had a centre mid covering the hole he left when/if he couldn't get back if the opposition broke. You also have to factor in that Fulham were one of the best sides in the Championship that season so could afford to carry someone who was slightly lapse defensively as they were so good going forward (see Danny Fox when we were promoted).

I'm happy enough to have him as Bertrand's understudy, but if he wants to leave then let him. I'm sure finding a backup left back won't be too hard, they might not be as good overall as Targett but we will find it hard to keep players happy who can be starters at top Champ teams/low PL teams if they aren't playing regularly for Saints.

 

Gareth Bale is available, apparently.
A bit too old for Ralph, so probably won’t happen.
Well, that and his £600k per week wages.

 

So we’re happy to see a young, hungry utility player (fullback/wing back on left or right) who wants to push for a regular starting place for one who’s happy to be back up? Really?

 

Ralph might see Jake Vokins as being able to step up, similar to Valery this season (though not as many games)

 

If they player wants to leave the club to pursue a first team spot then yes?

I really don't think it's unusual.